Snow melt from the snow pack in the Sierra Nevada mountain range provides drinking water to about 30% of California's residents, irrigates key crops in the San Joaquin valley, and runs hydroelectric power plants that supply at least 15% of the state's electricity. Scientists Martha Conklin and Tom Harmon of the University of California, Merced are conducting research at the Southern Sierra Critical Zone Observatory, using wireless sensor technology to more accurately measure snow pack and snow melt so that state water managers can make better decisions on how to allocate this precious resource. Published on Jul 12, 2013